WRITTEN QUESTION E-0896/02 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. OBD Directive 98/69/EC.
Date: 2002-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Internet site, consumer protection, general mechanical engineering, international standard, motor vehicle industry, motor vehicle pollution, report, standardisation, vehicle parts

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

The Commission is taking steps to do so when designing and implementing Community policies. The
health strategy set out in the communication (1) of May 2000 and the proposed action programme in the
field of public health underpin these actions. However, the Treaty also stipulates that Community action in
the field of public health shall fully respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the organisation
and delivery of health services and medical care. There is therefore no question of this programme setting
up a common health system in Europe.

With regard to candidate country health structures and health policies, the Commission is making every
effort, within the limits set by the Treaty, to assist their preparations for accession. Technical assistance
actions funded by PHARE are also provided.

As regards studies on the impact of enlargement on public health in the Member States, the Commission is
co-operating with other bodies active in this field,
including the World Health Organisation and the
European Observatory on Health Care Systems. The Commission has for example co-financed the
preparation and publication of a series of Highlights on Health for the ten Central and Eastern European
candidate countries.

The public health acquis is currently limited to the areas of tobacco control and communicable disease
surveillance and control. The Commission regularly monitors the effective transposition and implemen-
tation of
the acquis in its annual progress reports and regular monitoring reports. This year the
Commission is also carrying out an enhanced monitoring exercise which includes peer reviews to be
carried out in candidate countries together with Member State experts and by detailed questionnaires on
the state of play in each country. Moreover, the Commission is consulting the candidate countries with
regard to future public health acquis in the field of the quality and safety of blood and that of tissues and
cells.

As mentioned earlier, under the Treaty health services delivery is a matter for the Member States. However,
the Community has made efforts to involve candidate countries in exchanging information and know-how
about issues relating to health services. Some Community financial assistance is also being given in this
context through the pre-accession funds in relation to health services. With regard to the specific issue of
quality standards, there is an evolving discussion in the Community on the impact of Community law on
the functioning of health systems, notably in relation to the cross-border flow of patients between Member
States. Attention is being directed at, among other things, the important question of quality of health care,
and whether further action needs to be developed in this area.

(1) COM(2000) 285 final.

(2002/C 205 E/257)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0896/02

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(5 April 2002)

Subject: OBD Directive 98/69/EC

I have received an inquiry about the Commission report, which was to be submitted by 1 January 2000,
on the drawing up of a standard electronic format for repair information (OBD Directive 98/69/EC (1)).

Has that report come out by now and is it available?

If not, what action will the Commission take in this connection, and when will the report come out?

The report and the OASIS project, which the Commission has not pursued further, are connected. Is that
project to be taken up again?

What will the Commission do to ensure that, regardless of the existing marketing and repair system, repair
information is available to consumers and, in particular, car drivers and owners?

(1) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 1.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2002)

In accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 98/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 October
1998 relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and
amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC, the Commission has been preparing a standard format for
emission-related repair information. To facilitate international harmonisation the Commission has been
following closely the legislative work carried out by the Americain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and California Air Resources Board (CARB). The rules being proposed by EPA and CARB will require a
manufacturer to offer emission-related diagnostic and repair information over the world-wide web. Since
European manufacturers selling vehicles in North America will have to comply with the EPA and CARB
rules it is well motivated to have a similar approach within the Community. Therefore, the Commission is
preparing a solution that would require manufacturers to make available all emission-related diagnostic
and repair information to the general market through a web-site.

EPA and CARB consider that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard J1930 should be used in
the construction of web-sites to provide for standard terms and definitions covering all emission-related
information. Similar terms and definitions are laid down by the International Standardisation Organisation
(ISO) in standard 15031-2 which will be necessary for a Community solution, while also taking into
account Community languages. However, the Commission also sees it necessary to standardise, wherever
possible, the manner in which an end-user can access information from different manufacturer web-sites
that may present information according to completely different layouts. Access to a manufacturer’s web-
site should be simple and cost-effective to enable end-users, for example independent garages and mobile
services, to locate the right information quickly and cheaply.

for web-site operation and necessary equipment

Therefore, the Commission has decided to actively pursue the so-called ‘OASIS’ project that will define the
necessary parameters
for end-users. While the
Commission has yet to decide on how the results of the OASIS project could be implemented in practice,
the end result may be the development of an ISO standard that could be referenced in the Directive for the
provision of emissions-related OBD diagnostic and repair information. The basic plan behind the ‘OASIS’
project has been that the necessary work should be carried out by an expert in the field of electronic
information standardisation and that progress be regularly reviewed in a project group financed by the
various stakeholders. Unfortunately, it has taken a long time to reach a provisional agreement on that
group but it seems now to be at hand.

The Commission believes that such an approach will serve the best interests of the vehicle manufacturers,
spare parts manufacturers and repairers. Equally important, such an approach will also serve the best
interests of consumers by providing all parties involved in the servicing and repair of motor vehicles with
efficient and cost-effective access to diagnostic and repair information concerning emission control
systems. The Commission will present its report on the development project by the fourth quarter of
2002.

(2002/C 205 E/258)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0911/02

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Marketing of noni products

The marketing of noni products is at present being treated differently in the different Member States. In
Germany in particular, products produced on a 100 %-natural basis from the fruit (morinda citrifolia) and
bio-certified under EU law are being declared ineligible for marketing on the grounds that they contravene